A man goes into a pet shop to buy a parrot.
The shop owner points to three identically looking parrots on a perch and says:
"The parrot on the left costs $500."
"Why does the parrot cost so much?", asks the guest.
The owner says,
"Well, the parrot knows how to use a computer."
The man then asks about the next parrot. He is told that this one costs $1000, because it can do everything the other parrot can do, plus it knows how to use the UNIX operating system.
Naturally, the increasingly startled man asks about the third parrot. He is told that it costs $2000. Needless to say this begs the question,
"What can it do?"
To which the owner replies,
"To be honest I have never seen it do a thing, but the other two call him boss!"
abbr. International football federation. [french federation internationale de football association]
FIFE
n. Small shrill flute used in military music. fifer n. [german pfeife *pipe or french fifre]
FILE
—n. - folder, box, etc., for holding loose papers.
- papers kept in this.
- computing collection of (usu. Related) data stored under one name.
- line of people or things one behind another. —v. (-ling) 1 place (papers) in a file or among (esp. Public) records.
- submit (a petition for divorce, a patent application, etc.).
- (of a reporter) send (copy) to a newspaper.
- walk in a line. [latin filum thread]
- —n. Tool with a roughened surface for smoothing or shaping wood, fingernails, etc. —v. (-ling) smooth or shape with a file. [old english]
FILL
—v. - (often foll. By with) make or become full.
- occupy completely; spread over or through.
- block up (a cavity in a tooth); drill and put a filling into (a decayed tooth).
- appoint a person to hold or (of a person) hold (a post).
- hold (an office).
- carry out or supply (an order, commission, etc.).
- occupy (vacant time).
- (of a sail) be distended by wind.
- (usu. As filling adj.) (esp. Of food) satisfy, satiate. —n. - as much as one wants or can bear (eat your fill).
- enough to fill something. fill the bill be suitable or adequate. Fill in 1 complete (a form, document, etc.).
- a complete (a drawing etc.) Within an outline. B fill (an outline) in this way.
- fill (a hole etc.) Completely.
- (often foll. By for) act as a substitute.
- occupy oneself during (spare time).
- colloq. Inform (a person) more fully.
- slang thrash, beat. Fill out 1 enlarge to the required size.
- become enlarged or plump.
- us fill in (a document etc.). Fill up 1 make or become completely full.
- fill in (a document etc.).
- fill the petrol tank of (a car etc.). [old english]
FILM
star n. Celebrated film actor or actress.
- —n. - thin coating or covering layer.
- strip or sheet of plastic etc. Coated with light-sensitive emulsion for exposure in a camera.
- a story, episode, etc., on film, with the illusion of movement. B (in pl.) The cinema industry.
- slight veil or haze etc.
- dimness or morbid growth affecting the eyes. —v. - make a photographic film of (a scene, story, etc.).
- cover or become covered with or as with a film. [old english]
FILO
pastry n. (also phyllo pastry) leaved pastry like strudel pastry. [greek phullon leaf]
FIND
—v. (past and past part. Found) 1 a discover or get by chance or effort (found a key). B become aware of.
- a obtain, succeed in obtaining; receive (idea found acceptance). B summon up (found courage).
- seek out and provide or supply (will find you a book; finds his own meals).
- discover by study etc. (find the answer).
- a perceive or experience (find no sense in it). B (often in passive) discover to be present (not found in shakespeare). C discover from experience (finds england too cold).
- law (of a jury, judge, etc.) Decide and declare (found him guilty).
- reach by a natural process (water finds its own level). —n. - discovery of treasure etc.
- valued thing or person newly discovered. all found (of wages) with board and lodging provided free. Find fault see *fault. Find favour prove acceptable. Find one's feet 1 become able to walk.
- develop independence. Find oneself 1 discover that one is (found herself agreeing).
FINE
arts n.pl. Poetry, music, and the visual arts, esp. Painting, sculpture, and architecture.
- —adj. - a of high quality; excellent (fine painting). B good, satisfactory (that will be fine).
- a pure, refined. B (of gold or silver) containing a specified proportion of pure metal.
- imposing, dignified (fine buildings).
- in good health (i'm fine).
- (of weather etc.) Bright and clear.
- a thin; sharp. B in small particles. C worked in slender thread.
- euphemistic; flattering (fine words).
- ornate, showy.
- fastidious, affectedly refined. —adv. - finely.
- colloq. Very well (suits me fine). —v. (-ning) 1 (often foll. By away, down, off) make or become finer, thinner, more tapering, or less coarse.
- (often foll. By down) make or become clear (esp. Of beer etc.). not to put too fine a point on it to speak bluntly. finely adv. Fineness n. [french fin from latin finio *finish]
- —n. Money to be paid as a penalty. —v. (-ning) punish by a fine (fined him £5). in fine in short. [french fin settlement of a dispute, from latin finis end]
FINN
n. Native or national of finland; person of finnish descent. [old english]
FINO
n. (pl. -s) light-coloured dry sherry. [spanish, = fine]
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